CAMP BLANDING JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Fla. – U.S. Army Spc. Brandon Brown, representing the Florida Army National Guard, earned the title of 2026 Army National Guard Soldier of the Year, and U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Fouts, representing the Arizona Army National Guard, was named the 2026 Army National Guard Noncommissioned Officer of the Year during the closing ceremony at the 2026 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition July 15. The competition was hosted by the Florida Army National Guard at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center July 11-14. 

The War Department delivers one of the most comprehensive health benefits, through TRICARE, including an exceptional prescription drug benefit program, said David J. Smith, Defense Health Agency deputy director, during a Senate Armed Services Committee's personnel subcommittee hearing in Washington. 

Achieving peace through strength demands a decisively dominant force. Our military advantage and our readiness depend directly on the performance of the Department's most critical asset: our Warfighters. We maintain our weapon systems and equipment with precision, discipline, and accountability, yet we do not currently manage Warfighter performance with that same level of rigor. That gap directly impacts readiness, increases operational risk, and limits our lethality and effectiveness.

Fueling the fight means more than sustaining equipment — it means sustaining Soldiers. As part of an effort to enhance quality of life and support readiness, the Culinary Outpost officially began serving Soldiers at Fort Shafter, providing fresh, convenient meals designed with Soldiers in mind.